There is a dangerous doctrine in the religious world that says once a person is saved it is impossible to fall from grace. A person who believes that might put his guard down and become vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. The saints at Corinth were in danger of this because, in their arrogance, they thought they were spiritually invincible; thus, Paul warned them about that kind of thinking.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV)
¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

The first safeguard against apostasy that we should take is a realization that we can fall. The devil is busy every day. Peter reminds us to always be watchful.

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Do not be like the Corinthians and be caught with your guard down. Keep yourself safe by being humble enough to realize that Satan can get the best of you. What Satan cannot do is penetrate the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). It is up to you, however, to put it on, and keep it on.

Another safeguard that should be set firmly in place in our lives is the gospel of Christ. Peter once said that we are being guarded by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5). The word that Peter used for “guarded,” referred to a watcher or mount guard such as a sentinel. Figuratively, it meant “to hem in, protect, or keep with a garrison” (Strong).

As Christians, we have security in Christ. We are kept by the power of God, which in this case, refers to the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16). The more the gospel is a part of our lives, the more protected we are against the ploys of the devil. We make the gospel a part of our lives by living by its precepts and trusting its promises. Never forget that the gospel is more than just the wonderful story of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. While the death, burial, and resurrection make up the heart of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), it also involves commandments to keep and instructions to follow. The gospel is synonymous with “the faith,” and as long as we live by it, we are safe from Satan’s assaults.

Another safeguard against apostasy is spiritual-mindedness. The only way the devil can overtake us is by infiltrating our minds. We can protect our minds by filling them with the Word of God. John said, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him” (1 John 3:9). That seed is God’s Word (Luke 8:11). If you want a safeguard against apostasy, make sure that you are reading the Word as often as you can, filling your biblical heart with the Word of God (Colossians 3:16).

There are other powerful safeguards against apostasy. Prayer is certainly one of them. So is spending time with other Christians who can influence us for good. Being active in our local churches is another way that we can stay safe in the Lord. We all need to take heed lest we fall. Let us realize that we can fall and then take the appropriate measures to make sure that it never happens. With God’s help, we can avoid apostasy (Jude 1:24).

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.